Netanyahu: It's Time the PA Gave Something

Talks aren't frozen, he says, but "it's time to talk about Palestinian concessions, too. Like recognizing the Jewish state."

By Gil Ronen

First Publish: 11/17/2013, 7:35 PM

Livni and PA's Qureia in 'peace talks'

Flash 90

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu insisted Sunday that the "peace process" with the Palestinian Authority (PA) was not "frozen," but said he was waiting for PA concessions to move the talks forward.

"They're not frozen. We're talking," the Israeli leader said on CNN's "State of the Union" program. But "it's time to talk about Palestinian concessions, too. Like recognizing the Jewish state," Netanyahu said.

"You want us to recognize the Palestinian state for the Palestinian people. How about recognizing the Jewish state for the Jewish people," he said.

Direct talks resumed in June after a three-year hiatus due primarily to PA refusal to hold negotiations unless Israel froze construction in the Jewish communities and neighborhoods of Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria. The Israeli team is headed by Justice Minister Tzipi Livni.

Last week, the entire PA negotiating team resigned in protest against continued Israeli construction of homes in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria.